Siasia had visited with his wife Eunice to thank the Minister for his support to the Dream Team from Atlanta to Rio where they won a bronze medal in the football event of the Rio Olympics and to officially inform him that his contract with the NFF has ended
Browsing: Coach Samson Siasia
“It was very difficult circumstances. We struggled to get here. But there is oneness, a team spirit and a willingness to overcome
“Yesterday (Friday), we were actually worried about our defence, but they came out and played very, very well against a good Danish team. I think these guys have to be applauded coming out like that, and getting those two goals. It wasn’t an easy game but I am happy we are in the semi finals
African champions get set to tackle Group A runners-up, Denmark, in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
Siasia said this at the post match conference in the early hours of Thursday
However, Siasia has refused to be distracted beyond the match in Sao Paulo, saying he would finish with the Colombians before thinking of which team his side would have to face in the quarterfinals
Making the announcement on Saturday while meeting with players and other officials, Coach Siasia said the choice of Mikel Obi was automatic as he is the captain of the Super Eagles and also the captain of Team Nigeria to the Games
Siasia says Iwobi, who secured a first team spot for Arsenal towards the end of the season, may have had his Olympics dreams shattered but must look on the brighter side
That defeat gave Siasia and his technical crew a true perspective of their potential and forced him to make few adjustments to the side that lost two games (to Korea and Denmark) and won just one, against Honduras, at the Suwon tournament
“The most important thing is that team officials and the players have learnt a lot from this tournament, which we will take back home to start making our corrections
“The Danes did not play so well in their first game but they were tactically sound and we simply did not know how to defend against them
He said: “As part of our plan to give every player equal opportunity to stake a claim for a shirt going to the Rio Olympic Games, we will be giving all the players we brought to Korea a chance to play and be assessed on their own merit, so that none of them will complain of not getting enough time
According to the tactician, his players were not able to play their game as they were still suffering from jet lag occasioned by the long flight from Abuja.
“Not only that, the last couple of games he has played for the Super Eagles, he has been playing very well and if he wants to be part of the team, of course he is welcome, but as I said we have to look at the positions we really, really need people
One of the sources said: “Though, Nigeria’s opponents have been naming some top players that could make their final list for the games, but such could be counter productive for any team as the tournament is still in August
The coach, who is facing a dilemma of getting commitment from European clubs on the release of players to the national team’s camp, maintained that he is sure of few names, including Iwobi and Iheanacho, despite not yet beingdecided on his final list for the Games
In the draws made on Thursday, the African U-23 champions were drawn in Group B with Sweden, the European U-21 champions; Japan, the Asian champions; and Colombia, runners up to Argentina in the South American tournament
Invitation has also been extended to new players like Godwin Obaje, Julius Emiloju, Ifeanyi Mathew, Kabiru Moshood and Harrison Ibukun.
The invited players are expected to arrive the Starview Hotel, Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja on April 12, 2016, with their international passports, while training commences on Wednesday
It said this is based on his antecedents in handling the under 23 team, which he took to the finals of the 2008 Olympic Game in Beijing and qualifying for the Rio Olympic Games.
The former Green Eagles coach said any decision by the NFF or the Ministry of Youths and Sports to bring a foreign coach would amount to a “wild goose chase”
“We believe the combination of the coaching crew will help in the transition of young players from the 2015 Golden Eaglets, the 2015 Flying Eagles and the current U-23 Eagles to the Super Eagles, thereby building a stronger and formidable team